The annual Japan Fashion Week was cancelled because of the series of unfortunate events that have happened in Japan. This year’s fashion week was supposed to take place from March 21^st to 25^th. It should have showcased the fall and winter collections of 2011. However, the domino events of the earthquake and tsunami has canceled the runway shows.

Although Tokyo, the fashion capital of Asia, is not directly affected; buildings and factories which also include couture houses were shut down due to the fear of diminishing the electrical supply and for the very likely black-outs. There’s also the issue of fear and transportation problems. There will surely be a low number of attendees if the Fashion Week was pushed through. Furthermore, Japan is not on the verge of recuperating hence they are putting the Fashion Week as the least of their concerns right now.

Instead of gearing up to continue the fashion shows in Tokyo, designers’ efforts were geared towards helping others in big ways. Uniqlo, a clothing brand, has reportedly donated $25.6 million in cash and clothes to Japanese Red Cross Society, with almost half the money coming from the CEO. While designers and other fashion fans are helping in some big ways as well.

But fashion continues to live despite the calamity. Japanese designers and producers will post their Fall/Winter 2011 collections via web or other informal ways of presenting them to the buyers worldwide.

Every business in Japan has been crippled in some way by the natural disaster and that includes the fashion industry. Aside from the cancellation of the Fashion shows, there are also textile factories, fashion houses and stores which are shut down.

In case you don’t know Anna Wintour—chief editor of Vogue magazine since 1988, she is the most influential person in the fashion world. Her world exceeds beyond fashion and also to business, entertainment and politics —she’s actually a peer among the likes of Oprah and Martha.

Her name may not be as widely known as Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart but as editor-in-chief of vogue magazine, she might still be influencing unsuspected costumers, designers, shops, celebrities and people. Her words, thoughts and ideals as presented in Vogue are read and acquired by consumers and trendsetters alike.

Hence WSJ magazine, a glossy lifestyle magazine, features Wintour in its cover article for April talking about her prestige and powerful influence in the fashion industry. It’s a very rare interview since only few know her behind the pages of her fashion magazine.

She’s really a powerful person in America. This statement is also said by the editor of WSJ Deborah Needleman. As quoted by Jacobs in the article, “If I get a request for something, there aren’t two possible answers. First I get an email, then a phone call from someone at Vogue, and now I don’t even bother to say no—I know the next call is from her.”

Jacob is one of the people who benefited from Wintour’s influence. When Louis Vuiton was looking for a designer in 1997, she suggested Jacob’s name to the brand’s CEO.

But aside from that, there have been many fashion events launched by Wintour including the big event Fashion Night Out in 2009 and 2010 in New York. Despite the financial crisis, she persuaded stores to spend for parties. She managed to mix stores, celebrities and shoppers in an ultimate shopping night out and dig into their wallet despite the recession. With that, she basically created a holiday. According to Needleman “Who else has the power to take New York and create a holiday?”

Do you remember the movie “The Devil Wears Prada”? She is the inspiration behind the character Miranda Presley. She may be the Ice Queen but among her close friends including Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Oscar dela Renta, Nicole Kidman and many others, she can be warm and loyal. And a lot of people want to get into Wintour’s inner circle of friends.

A leading newspaper in Britain reported Sunday that Kate Middleton has chosen Sarah Burton of McQueen fashion house to design her most-talked about royal wedding dress.

The Sunday Times said in its online edition that Burton, who is the creative director of McQueen fashion house, accepted the request of Middleton to help her design her wedding dress.

However, the 36-year-old British designer denied the claim that she has been given the most coveted task in the fashion industry.

The report said the dress would be a combination of Burton’s extensive knowledge of high fashion, as well as Middleton’s ideas on the design.

The paper did not reveal their sources. However, it suggests the details had reached them after Jonathan Akeroyd, McQueen’s chief executive, informed a work colleague that they have received the commission. Akeroyd, later on, denied that they will be involved in the royal event.

A publicist for McQueen house declined the report in an email to an online publication. It said the story is untrue.

Two weeks ago, chief executive of British Fashion Council, Caroline Rush said that whoever had been given the coveted task would be adjoined by the rules of the agreement to keep their role undisclosed in any way possible until Middletown walks down the aisle.

Kate Middleton, 29, is the fiancée of Prince William of Wales. They will get married before the 1,900 invited guests and a worldwide television audience.

Buckingham Palace refused to comment on the speculations. It added that it would not disclose the name of the designer until the day of the royal wedding on April 29.